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ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  REPORT. 


Adjutant-General's  Office,         ) 
Shreveport,  January  18th,  1864.  ) 

Governor — The  enrolment  of  the  Militia  under  the  Act  of  June 
20th,  1863,  was  completed  in  many  parishes,  and  the  rolls  filed  in  this 
office,  w'hen  the  President  called  out  the  conscripts  between  the  ages  of 
forty  and  forty-five.  The  ages  of  the  men  had  not  been  specified  by 
the  Enrolling  Officers,  Avhich  necessitated  an  entire  revision  of  the  rolls. 
They  were  accordingly  returned  with  instructions  to  recommence  their 
work.  About  this  time  the  threatened  invasion  of  the  interior,  the  oc- 
cupation of  some  of  the  parishes  by  the  enemy,  their  near  approach  to 
others,  and  the  preparation  in  nearly  all  by  the  citizens  for  removal, 
prevented  any  attempt  by  the  officers  to  resume  their  work.  The  same 
causes  disturbed  the  mail  facilities  throughout  the  State,  so  that  com- 
munication with  the  officers  was  suspended,  nor  has  it  been  renewed 
except  by  the  main  route  through  the  Red  river  valley.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  cessation  of  mail  facilities,  I  liad  recourse  to  the  employ- 
ment ofa  messenger  who  carried  the  necessary  papers  to  the  Parishes  in  the 
Ouachita  country,  andtheupper  Mississippi.  Whenever  practicable,  I 
availed  my.self  of  the  courier  lines  of  the  Confederate  authorities,  the 
use  of  which  was  kindly  extended  to  this  office.  I  also  despatched  the 
Assistant  Adjutant  General  to  the  Eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi  to  en- 
sure the  enrolment  in  those  Parishes,  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
seminating among  the  people  copies  of  the  Volunteer  Act,  and  encour- 
aging enlistments  under  it.  I  append  a  list  of  the  Parishes,  in  which 
the  enrolment  has  been  completed,  with  the  number  of  men  reported. — 
It  will  be  seen  they  amount  in  sixteen  Parishes  to  twenty-eight 
hundred  and  seventy,  of  whom  three  hundred  and  ninety-five  are  ex- 
empts. 

Assuming  this  as  a  fair  index  of  what  the  whole  number  of  militia 
will  be  in  the  Parishes  within  our  lines,  it  will  be  acknowledged  that  the 
iorce  is  insufficient  even  for  the  purpose  of  local  defence.  I  therefore 
reccommend  that  the  age  be  extended  to  fifty-five.  The  chief  use  to 
which  an  undisciplined  force,  as  militia  always  are,  can  be  applied  in' 
the  relief  of  the  Confederate  forces  from  the  detached  duty  which  em- 
ploys so  many  in  an  extensive  and  sparsely  settled  country  like  ours.  It 
will  be  more  desirable  that  those  liable  to  militia  service  should  organ- 
ize companies,  either  of  Minute  men,  or  of  State  volunteers,  which  would 
spare  the  necessity  of  calling  out  the  Militia  en  masse,  and  would  afford 
the  Confederate  commanders  material  assistance  in  garrisoning  ports,  and 
suchlike  service,  thus  enabling  them  to  keep  together  their  organiza- 
tions, and  thereby  promoting  their  efficiency.  These  companies  would 
also  be  effective  in  sudden  emergencies,  and  would  serve  as  a  nucleus 
around  which  the  citizens  could  form.  They  might  be  permitted  to 
rotate  in  tlu'  rendition  of  fhesf  services,  if  a  sufficient  number  of  these 


coRipaBies  were  formed  to  allow  a  portion  fo  remain  at  home,  wliile  the 
others  were  on  duty.  I  am  not  unrpiudful  of  the  disadvantage  of  thus 
changing  the  men  in  serrice,  but  the  necessity  of  leaving  at  home,  a 
sufficient  nnmber  to,  ensure  bountiful  crops,  and, conduct  t]iQ  industrial 
operations,  necessary  for  the  support  and  sustenance  of  the  array  and 
the  people,  is  a  controlling  reason,  which  forbids  the  whole  male  popu- 
lation from  being  called  under  arms,  except  in  those  perilous  crisis, 
when  all  considerations  yield  to  the  imperative   demand  for  armed  men. 

Great  difficulty  was  experienced  under  the  present  Act  in  some  Par- 
ishes in  procuring  enrolling  officers.  The  acceptance  of  the  office  is 
purely  voluntary,  and  in  the  event  of  its  non-acceptance,  there  i^  u(j  of^ 
licer  who  could  be  ordered  to  perform  its  duties.  The  enrolment  had 
to  be  made  before  it  could  be  ascertained  who  were  subject  to  duty. — 
No  officers  could  be  appointed  or  elected  .until  the  whole  body  was  en- 
rolled. The  office  was  declined  in  sorpe  instances,  because;  the  compeu; 
sation,  it  was  urged,  was  insufficient  to  pay  the  Kxpeuses  of  the  officer 
in  travelling  (hrougli  his  Paiish.  Had  the  Executive  been  permitted 
to  commission  an  officer  in  each  di.strict  as  Liffutcuiant,  aud  assign  him 
to  this  duty,  the  dilay  would  doubtless  have  been  avoided  ;  but  thiw 
change  is  not  needed  now,  since  appointments  have  been  made  after 
6ome  difficulty  in  all  the  l'ari.slies. 

Any  militia  law  nmst  remain  practically  a  nullity,  so  far  ^  enforcing 
militia  service  is  concerned,  unless  adequate  punishment  is  provided  for 
the  non-performance  of  duty.  Tlie  stringent  penalty  provided  by  a 
former  Act  wag  repealed  by  that  now  in  force.  If  adet^uate  punish- 
ment were  provided  for  failure  to  perform  militia  duty,  it  would  en- 
courage the  formatiuji  of  Stfitw  volunteer  coinpa^iies,  since  that  servicf 
is  perforred.  When  miljtia  service  is  compulsory,  men  will  form  vol- 
unteer companies  to  avoid  it»  as  they  seek  admiaoion  into  those  orgati- 
izations  to  avoid  conscripticn. 

The  term  of  service  of. the  two  battalions  of  volunteers — one  of  infan- 
try, and  the  other  of  cayahy—rexpircs  in  the  Spring.  These  are  the 
only  organizntions  under  the  Act  providing  a  volunteer  corps  for  local 
defj'uce.  Both  have  been  under  the  orders  of  the  Confederate  General, 
and  have  buen  on  duty  within  thn  State.  An  efficient  cavalry  force  of 
five  hundred  men  could  be  formed  under  this  Act,  which  might  be  em- 
ployed by  the  Executive  with  great  advantage  to  the  public. 
Quartermaster  Gb.neral's  Blrkau. 

The  duties  of  Paymaster  are  attached  to  this  blareau.  The  amount 
expended  for  the  military  s«'rvice  during  the  past  year  will  appear, 
from  the  account*^  appended  to  the  Report  of  the  Quartermaster  Gener- 
'il,  to  be  four  hundred  thousand  dollars.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
the  volunteer  local  corp"  have  been  paid  eicldsivcly  by  the  State,  al- 
though they  have  been  acting  under  the  orders  of  the  Confederate  of- 
ficers. The  Confederate  authorities  assumed  the  charge  of  their  rations 
and  clothing  during  a  part  of  the  year. 

Ordnance  Bibrat. 

,  The  Report  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  will  show  the  extent  to  which 
assistance  has  been  rendered  the  Confederate  authorities  in  supplying 
them  at  need  with  munitions  aud  small  arms.  I  submit  his  recommen- 
dation for  the  establishment  of  a  workshop,  if  if  is  int«'nded  to  continn^ 
the  manufacture  of  accoutremente.  and  the  repair  of  arms. 


Surgeon  Gkneral's  Bureau. 
The  judicioifs  i-egiilations  establislied  by  tbe  Surgeon  General,  Lave 
securei  competent  Surgeons  for  the  State  service,  and  his  timely  pur- 
chase of  medicines  has  saved  the  State  any  acftial  expense,  tSeir  beino- 
aNBufficient  (Quantity  now  on  hand  to  reirabuvse  for  the  outlay  of  the 
whole,  and  further  to  repay  all  the  expenses  of  his  department. 

Arms  Ai\]i) Munitions  Imported. 

The  Re|)Oft,  of  the  agent  sent  to  Richmond  discloses  discrepencies  be- 
tween the  advices  received  from  your  purchasing  agents  .abroad,  and 
the  statements  from  the  OrJriance  Bureau  at  Riolimond,  concerning  the 
quantity  ©f  arms  and  munitions  i-eceived  by  the  Confederate  authori- 
ties for  this  State.  From  the  best  information  he  could  procure,  he  re- 
ports the  number  of  rifles  belonging  to  this  State,  received  at  Confeder- 
ate ports,  as  five  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-five,  of  which, 
there  have  been  received  by  the  State,  two  thousand  one  hundred 
and  forty,  leaving  in  the  possession  of  the  Confederate  government,  and 
on  the  Eastern  side  of  the  Missiseippi,  three  thousand  seven  hundred 
and  forty-five,  with  a  corresponding  quantity  of  ammunition  and  .accou- 
trements. I  have  prep.ared  wit|i  some  care,  a  tabular  statement  of  the 
shipments  made  under  your  orders  from  Europe,  which  is  appended, 
and  -will  exhibit  the  quantity  shipped  to  be  much  larger,  after  deductiu"- 
the  losses  sustained  by  capture  and  shipwreck,  than  that  ascertained  to 
have  been  received  by  the  Confederate  authorities.  It  is  accounted 
for  by  the  fact  that  the  shipments  were  not  made  to  the  State  by  name, 
for  pi-ecaution's  sake,  but  were  designated  by  a  mark,  which  was  doubt- 
less overlooked  by  the  Confederate  Ordnance  officer  who  received  them, 
and  they  were  distributed  before  notice  of  their  arrival  was  obtained, 
and  before  claim  could  be  made  to  them. 

Men  Furnished  to  the  Confederate  Army. 

Efforts  have  been  made  to  ascertain  the  exact  number  of  troops  fur- 
nished by  Louisiana  to  the  Confederate  army.  Several  regiments  and 
battalions  were  organized,  and  tendered  directly  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment, in  consequence  of  whicli:  no  record  of  their  organization  exist.s 
in  this  office.  The  short  period  in  Svhich  I  have  held  this  office  has 
not  given  me  sufficient  time  tO  obtain  from  the  War  Department,  at 
Richmond,  the  necessary  data  for  entire  exactness,  but  approximative 
estimates  of  the  corps  thus  organized,  coupled  with  the  official  figures 
of  those  organized  through  the  State  office,  justify  me  in  stating  the 
number  to  be  about  fifty-two  thousand.  This  does  not  include  the 
local  volunteers,  which  were  furnished  by  the  State,  although  these 
were  also  mustered  into  Confederate  service.  These  number  ten  thou- 
sand nine  hundred  and  nineteen.  I  am  expecting  from  Richmond  full 
information  on  this  subject,  which  will  gratify  the  laudable  pride  every 
Louisianian  feels,  by  affording  him  attestation  of  the  services  rendered 
by  her  to  the  common  cause. 

Tlie  following  documents  are  appended : — 

A— Table  of  Enrolled  Militia. 

B — Quartermaster  General's  Report. 

0 — Report  of  Chief  of  Ordnance. 

t) — Surgeon  (Joucrars  Report. 


1-; — Report  of  Agent  sent  to  Richnionfl. 

1^ — Tabular  Statement  of  Aims,  and  Muaitiotfs  and  Accouti'emeuts 
Imported.  ,^, ,.  _.,.,. .     ^,  ,.    -  ,  ^ 

To  which  I  refer  foy.  laore  detailed  information  on  their  respective 
subjects,  J  .  ^,     ',,, 

I  have;  the  Hoipior  to  be, 

Your  6b 't  serv't, 

THOS.  C.  MANNING, 
,,    jr  r  .     ,,  Adjutant  General. 

.  'Hi's  I'Vxcolii'ncy,  Tiipf^iiAS  '0.  'iloouK, 

J.  \.Commander-trt-Chief^. 


SURGEOiN -GENERALS  REPORT. 


Mt.  Lebanon,  Decembor  23cl,  1863. 
GiEN,  Thos.  0.  ManmiNo,  Adjl.  Gen.  Ln.  Forces: 

Sir — I  have  the  honor  to    submit  the  following  Report,  embracing 
ererything  connected  with  the  administration  of*  my  Department,  that 
I  deem  of  interest  to  you  or  the  public, 
power,  1st,  to  make  the  Medical  Department  efiicient  and  respectable ; 

On  assuming  the  duties  of  my  office  I  determined,  as  far  as  lay  in  my 
2d,  to  supply  the  State  Troops  amply  with  all  medicines  necessary  for 
their  uses ;  3d,  to  enforce  on  the  State  Sm-geons  the  necessary  attentions 
to  the  hygiene  of  the  troops  in  camp  and  in  the  field,  and  lastly,  to  observe 
the  strictest  economy  consistent  with  these  objects.  I  am  happy  to 
state  that  all  these  purposes  have  been  fully  realized  as  far  as  depend- 
ed on  ray  Department.  I  cannot  too  strongly  express  my  obligations 
to  the  Governor  not  only  for  leaving  me  untrammeled  in  the  execution 
of  my  plans,  hut  for  valuable  counsel  on  all  matters  referred  to  him. 

The  Surgeons  commissioned  on  ray  recommeudatiou  were,  without 
an  exception,  gentlemen  of  fine  attainments  and  high  social  position, 
who  justified  their  appointment  by  their  able  and  diligent  discharge  of 
every  duty  imposed  on  them. 

In  a  former  Report  I  earnestly  recommended  that  no  Svirgeon  nomi- 
nated by  a  Regimental  or  Battalion  Commander  be  commissioned  until 
examined  and  approved  by  a  competent  Board.  A  general  order  to 
that  effect  was  accordingly  issued,  and  ]  respectfully  urge  that  in  no 
instance  it  be  departed  from.  When  under,  the  operation  of  the  late 
Jaw  the  militia  were  being  called  out,  I  recommended  the  appointment 
of  Parochial  Surgeons,  who  under  the  sanction  of  an  official  oath,  and 
guided  by  instructions  from  this  Depaitment,  were  to  examine,  and 
when  proper,  discharge  men  physically  unfitted  for  military  service. 
This  recommendation  had  the  double  pu'pose  of  relieving  infirm  men 
from  the  annoyance  of  being  dragged  to  cistaut  camps  and  of  saving  to 
the  State  the  expense  of  transportation  and  jations  for  such  men.  This 
duty  was  in  almost  every  instance  faithfdly  and  strictly  performed  by 
the  officers  appointed,  and  where  an  exceptioual  case  occurred,  the  cor- 
rective was  promptly  applied.  The  entire  cost  to  the  State  of  this  ser- 
vice was  two  thousand  dollars,  while  the  amount  saved  could  not  have 
been  less  than  thirty  thousand  dollars.  From  the  reports  of  Examin- 
ing Surgeons  I  draw  the  conclusion  that  twenty-two  and  one  half 
per  cent,  of  those  made  subject  to  militia  duty  under  the  late  law  were 
physically  unfit  for  service.  From  Hospital,  Camp  and  Field  Re- 
ports, I  may  state  in  this  connection  the  mortality  has  been  a  fraction 
under  three  per  cent,  in  all  branches  of  the  State  service  up  to  the  date 
of  the  last  monthly  report. 

At  Shrcveport  I  was  called  upon  unexpectedly  to  improvise  a  hospi- 
*«il,  in  which  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  patients,  many  laboring  ua- 


d'T  alarmiug  diseases,  were  .ireated.  Dr.  C.  B.  Nottiiiglj^in,  Surgeon 
ill  charge,  received  the  kindest  aid  from  the  benevolent  ladies  of  that 
place,  and  liis  marked  success  in  the  treatment  and  cure  of  so  large  a 
proft'rtion  of  malignant  cases,  while  wminently  creditable  to  the  skill 
and  industry  of  that  officer,  was  in  part  ascribable  to  the  charitable  in- 
terposition of  those  ladies.  For  the  State  troops  stationed  near  Alex- 
andria I  had  the  good  fortune  to  secure  hospital  service,  when  needed, 
at  the  Taylor  Hospital,  and  I  am  under  many  obligations  to  the  Sur- 
geons in  charge  of  that  admirably  conducted  institution  for  their  assid- 
uous attentions  to  such  of  the  State  troops  as  were  admitted  there. 
The  entire  amount  exp(^nded  for  medicines,  hospital  stores 

and  furniture  up    to  this  date,  was 824,449  60 

Estimate  of  the  present  value  of  medicines  now  on  hand, 
belonging  to  the  State  as  made  in    the  report  of    the 

Medical  l^urveyor 71,835  70 

Money  received  for  four  hundred  ounces  of  quinine   paid 

over  to  the  Quartermaster  General 12,000  00 

Estimated  value  of  hospital  furniture,  medicines  and  in- 
struments, some  in  charge  of  the  Quartermaster  at 
Shrcveport,  some  at  Alexandria,  not  included   in  the 

above noo  00 

Amount  unexpended  in  the  hands  of  the  l^urvfcyor 782  88 

Total  of  medicines,  &,c.,  money  now  on  liand ...'... $85,218  58 

From  this  deduct  original  cost  of  medicines,  &c 24,449  60 

Thus  leaving  to  the  State  in  consequence  of  early  and 
favorable  purchases  after  meeting  all  requisitions  for 

State  service,  a  clear  profit   of $60,768  98 

There  was  some  small  expenditure  for  medicines,  not  included  in  the 
above  abstract,  caused  by  th»!  failure  of  the  boat  Osceola  to  reach  Alex- 
andria in  due  time  and  partly  by  the  necessities  of  a  company  on  de- 
tachcjd  duty  unattended  by  a  surgeon.  The  exact  amount  of  this  ex- 
penditure 1  have  no  means  of  stating,  the  medicines  having  been  paid 
for  by  the  local  Quartermasteff*.  "With  regard  to  the  medicines  sold  to 
the  Confederate  Purveyor  at  Alexandria,  the  absolute  want  of  quinine 
for  hospital  and  field  service  in  General  Taylor's  army  at  the  time,  of 
■which  fact  I  was  j)ersonally  cognizant,  induced  me  with  the  approval 
of  the  Governor,  to  sell  the  juinine  referred  to  at  a  cost  which  fully 
indemnified  the  State. 

It  is  apparent  from  the  abcvo  extract  that  the  entire  Medical  De- 
partment of  the  State  service  has,  in  fact,  not  cost  the  State  one  dollar, 
inasmuch  as  the  value  of  medicines  on  hand  and  the  money  received, 
largely  overbalance  all  expenditures  for  that  branch  of  the  service.  The 
promptitude  of  Dr.  James  D.  Harper,  the  Medical  Purveyor,  and  the 
conscientious  fidelity  with  which  he  has  guarded  from  wast*  the  public 
medicines,  deserve  th«  highest  commendation. 
Respectfully  submitted, 

BARTHOLOMEW  EGAN, 
Sttrgeon-Generni   of  La.    Forest. 


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